Eagles Guitarist Glenn Frey Dies at 67

Glenn Frey, a founding member of the Eagles, has died. The guitarist had been battling intestinal issues that forced the band to postpone its Kennedy Center Honors in December.

The band shared the news on their Facebook page Monday afternoon, adding that Frey died from complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia.

After expressing gratitude to those who’ve joined the rock legend in his recent health battle, the post shares lyrics from a song from the Eagles’ Long Road Out of Eden album, a 2007 album that included several country music songs as singles. "How Long" was their greatest radio success from that album. Frey wrote 10 of the songs on the two discs.

Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide.

At the time band members indicated the album would be their last, a suggestion that seems even more likely after Frey's unexpected death. The Detroit native disclosed intestinal problems last fall, and the Eagles were forced to pull out of attending the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in December due to his surgery. Miranda Lambert paid tribute to the band on that night, singing “Desperado.” They were to accept their honor at the 2016 ceremony in Washington D.C.

The Eagles took root in the early 1970s when Frey met Don Henley. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, the band got a break when J.D. Souther’s girlfriend Linda Ronstadt needed a backing band. Frey, Henley, bassist Randy Meisner and guitarist Bernie Leadon were hired. After their 1971 tour they broke free of Ronstadt and started calling themselves the Eagles.

They would record seven studio albums and two live albums over the course of 35 years. The bulk of their success came in the ‘70s, with songs like “Take It Easy,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Hotel California” becoming songs still heard on the radio today. The band would reunite in 1993 and continue off and on through the first decade of the 2000s.

As a solo artist Frey released five albums, most recently After Hours in 2012. “The Heat Is On,” a song from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack was his biggest hit, although “You Belong To the City” also was a big hit.